Garden centre plants may pose pesticide threat to bees

lady in a garden centre

Source: iStock

Insecticides on ornamental UK plants found at levels known to have an impact on pollinators

Plants sold at UK garden centres are tainted by a cocktail of pesticide residues, a study has found.1 The mix included neonicotinoid pesticides, some of which are banned on bee attractive crops in the EU. The authors report that gardeners could be contaminating their gardens with pesticides harmful to beneficial insects and pollinators by purchasing these plants.